Though it's not offering much in the way of higher salaries these days, media giant Viacom is offering New York staffers one perk: a revamped dining room/cafeteria space/whatever-the-classy-word-is-for-mess hall at their headquarters on Broadway. Now the space is 12,000 sq. ft and includes such bonuses as a "8-ft. by 8-ft. projection screen broadcasting MTVN Networks channels 24 hours a day" as well as a bocca ball light fixture(?). No word yet on the food stuffs, but that's not what the place is really for.
NEway, Viacom's revamp comes not a moment too soon, as it was desperately losing the unnecessarily elaborate Eating Space Awards, which we just made up.
But how does Viacom's new foodie digs compare to other media companies' digestive offerings? Let's check in on the free Skittles: CONTINUED »
Just in time for Conde Nast's closure of Golf For Women, its editor Susan Reed is named to take over Hearst title O, The Oprah Magazine, where Amy Gross is stepping down. And it's a decision Reed had made before learning Golf was closing; Hearst had been courting her for weeks. Then, rather than begin the exhaustive hunt for a new editor-in-chief, Conde decided it'd be much easier to retire the 20-year-old title. So staffers can probably look to Reed for choosing a new career path as the reason they're out of a job. [WWD]
Quick & Simple, the Hearst magazine about, um, cooking and stuff, has folded. Staffers were told of the decision today. The brand will live on at QuickAndSimple.com, which, though revamped, has us suspicious: publishers always say they'll keep the website alive, because it takes two people to do it. [AdAge]
It turns out Marie Claire's Joanna Coles isn't the only Hearst-y who's pulling double duty pushing real estate. Last month we followed the bizarre set of puzzle pieces that went like so: Coles put Tina Fey on the cover of Marie Claire to promote the actress' movie Baby Mama; the movie filmed outside 210 Riverside Drive, where Coles lives; an apartment listing for 210 Riverside mentions that Baby Mama filmed there; the listing is posted by Coles' own real estate agent (Hearst spokeswoman Jessica Pollack says "Joanna has no relationship and has never used Victoria Matus as her broker.").
And now a few other recognizable faces at Hearst are jumping on the trend, whether they volunteered to or not. CONTINUED »
Just as it is too soon to discuss who will take over permanently at Meet The Press, so too is it too soon to discuss who will permanently take over at Hearst, where Victor Ganzi's surprise exit puts former chief Frank Bennack back in the post, for now. [NYP]
Hearst CEO Victor Ganzi joins Hachette CEO Jack Kliger in a round of high-profile publishing exits. This is good news, because regime change always brings new gossip. [WSJ]
"Most big magazine publishers saw total ad pages decline in the first four months of 2008 compared to the same period last year [...] While some losses can be attributed to the closing of various titles since last year, the broad nature of the declines, cutting across a number of categories, looks ominous for the magazine industry." CONTINUED »
George Clooney had the Hearst girls in a tizzy when he arrived in the lobby to shoot a spread for Esquire. [P6]
Because attaching themselves to Web 2.0 is the only way to guarantee their survival, magazines near and far are securing partnerships with sites like YouTube. Haven't you heard? Web video is in in with the kids.
New at bat? Hearst, which joins TVGuide and the Tribune Co. as a publisher who considers crappy quality video their best means at brand extension. They're setting up "dedicated video channels" – a glorified way of saying "user account" – for a slew of their magazines. They've already got accounts set up for Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, and Seventeen.
So just how well are they faring? Well, Ann Shoket's clips for Seventeen, which range from backstage fashion show footage to something called "Guys Talk: The last time they cried," have racked up tens of tens of views!
"Beauty Sale" has been seen 200 times! Coverage of the "hair" at Victoria's Secret's fashion show has a knockout 476 views! The biggest standout thus far? A nine-second clip from Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford telling you what time and day his show is on; almost 12,000 views.
Brilliant!
After the jump, Seventeen beauty editor Desi Gallegos goes backstage at the Victoria's Secret fashion show to talk about … eyelashes. How does this not have success written all over it?
STRENGTH IN FUMBLES Gannett Co., Hearst Corp., the New York Times Co. and Tribune Co. are banding together to create an online ad sales network, which will leverage the enormous readership of all its websites to SAVE THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY. [WSJ]
WHAT’S THE OPPOSITE OF YUM-O? Two senior editors at Every Day With Rachael Ray, Reader's Digest property, have resigned to work on a start-up magazine with Hearst. [NYP]
And today in crazy, Hearst CEO Victor Ganzi sues his mom for brazenly marrying her chauffeur after a whirlwind 10-year courtship. Also a litigious factor: Said mother selfishly requested additional money (from her own trust fund) back in 2004, after hurricanes in Florida significantly damaged her 20 year-old condominium. The Village Voice reports:
In August 2006, Gert's four sons sued their mother in New York Superior Court in Suffolk County. They asked a judge to declare that they had done nothing wrong in handling their mother's trust. And they contended that Vola had only married their mother for her money.
Perhaps they're right! But as far as we're concerned, anyone who's willing to stick it out for at least fifteen years of holy matrimony sort of deserves that Florida condo. Also, you know what's even shittier than marrying a lonely woman you've actually grown to love and respect? Suing your own mother and cutting her off financially because you're just "not sure" about her second husband's motivation.
If you're anything like us, you probably figured that raging hormones are primarily confined to the genus of adolescent males, particularly those of the pimply-faced, squeaky voiced, and giant notebook-carrying variety.
In truth, however, you'll be somewhat alarmed to hear that most boys never grow out of their infatuation with sex. If, for instance, you happen to work in a building with great glass elevators and see-through ceilings, your male colleagues are, most likely, craning their necks every morning to maximize their viewpoint of your inappropriately short mini-dress, all based on the faint (if remote) possibility that they'll score the ultimate prize: a momentary glimpse of your exposed crotch-area.
Which means that all you poofy skirt-wearing types over at Hearst had better take note. Because you have, in all likelihood, already flashed your boss, his assistant and the janitor. Not to mention a rotating gaggle of onlookers.
Canadian people—they're so hopelessly awkward, aren't they? What with their funny, high-pitched voices, their public healthcare system and their inexplicable obsession with all things Mike Meyers! Fortunately, those promiscuous sexually experienced types over at Cosmopolitan are bringing their television program (think Sex and the City, but sluttier) to our neighbors to the north, as part of a new initiative geared towards helping Canucks get laid, entitled "Hey Canada—Go Fuck Yourselves."
Hearst and Canada's Corus Entertainment are partnering to bring Cosmopolitan Television to Canada. Launched in Spain in 2000, the TV version of the world's leading magazine for young women now exists in more than 20 countries, including Mexico and Argentina.
The Canadian version of the Cosmo TV Channel is said to include various hard-hitting segments, including "Why Tonsil Hockey Beats Regular Hockey: The Art Of French-Canadian Kissing," "How To Ask A Guy Oot" and "He's Just Not That Into You, Eh?"
Funny how in its report of Hearst snapping up online shopping comparison service Kaboodle.com, the I doesn't even bother to give us the dollar amount attached to the deal. In fact, they don't even speculate, and what fun is that?
So, we will: It's somewhere in the $30-$40 million range. [WSJ]
Editorial Director
